Now, to the game.
Birmingham City come to Hillsborough for the Owls first home game of the Championship season. Pre - match I was happy if we were to end the 90mins with a point, as the visiting Blues have a Premiership pedigree and a strong side that will undoubtedly do well this season.
As kick off looms closer, @SWFC is bombarded with tweets hoping for a delayed kick off as traffic builds around Sheffield, meaning at 19:45 some fans are still en-route. Nonetheless the game kicks off on time to Hillsborough rocking to 'Hi-Ho Sheffield Wednesday'... and there's the whistle.
The Owls start brightly and within 3mins the aforementioned Spanish loanee, Rodri, connects with a Reda Johnson cross that forces the games first save. The following few minutes is Wednesday at their finest, keeping possession, attacking at pace and closing every loose ball down. The only noteworthy play from Birmimgham is a shot deflected off Mark Beevers for a corner, eventually cleared by the Owls' other Spaniard - Miguel Llera. The commentator has a moment to himself, first slating his view at Hillsborough, then the numbers being 'rubbish' on the home teams shirt and finally stating the Owls are 'at least a tall team'. Chris Kirkland is then called into action, tipping a long range drive around the post. 15mins pass of Owls domination and suddenly Jermaine Johnson receives a pass from O'Grady, putting him through on goal but just as he gets the shot off he's tackled and the ball goes for a corner. Reda Johnson is in the end of it and the Owls lead! 1-0 and Hillsborough is rocking! As O'Grady is getting plaudits for his work rate, Kirkland catches a cross from Burke showing he will be a great signing and hard to beat. A determined run by Antonio results in a corner which Llera eventually volleys at Birmingham's England goalkeeper, Butland. Nathan Redmond fires a shot over in anger as the Owls are in cruise control, exploiting the fullbacks with JJ and Antonio. The height of the Owls team is also causing problems at set pieces as another corner results in a Reda header just wide. A tracking back Rodri tackles Redmond and sets up an attack ending with a Semedo cross just ahead of the impressive Rodri. The 'Barmy Army' chant bellows from the stands as an Antonio cracker flies just wide after good play by JJ. Birmingham's Ambrose has their only shot of note after some Owls dominance but that flies over from 25yards. Rodri's dropping off O'Grady and darting in-runs are causing endless problems for the visitors but his debut is marked by a booking for a foul, deemed a poor referee decision by the twitter masses. Putting that behind him, Rodri advances on Caldwell and fires his debut goal past Jack Butland, 2-0 Wednesday! Every touch cheered from the stands, the Owls are in fine form, ole! ole! ole! Beevers and Llera at the back are lookin solid, seeing off King and Redmond on every attack.
"A full Wednesday kop is really intimidating - it goes on forever!" 5 Live.
HT analysis: Unbelievable football from the home team and I hope we haven't peaked in this game too soon, inviting Birmingham a route back in. A bag of Quavers & a Peanut Lion Bar is the half time snack!
Nicola Zigic is brought on at half time and makes an immediate impact, chesting the ball to Redmond who lays off King for a shot fantastically saved by Kirkland. A foul by Beevers on King 25yards out results in Birminghams second chance in the second half, fortunately skied by Murphy. Another enterprising run by Antonio almost leads to a chance in goal but his nutmeg of Murphy runs through to Butland. Beevers is having a fine game but can do nothing as Reda is beaten by Burke but his shot flies wide. The away team are getting back into the game and only a Llera clearance from the influential Burke stops another good attack. Substitution for Wednesday and the noise every debutant wants to hear, his name cheered by thousands of fans as Rodri makes way for Madine, "Ole Ole Ole Ole, Rodri! Rodri!". Another Kirkland save keeps King at bay, tipping an angled drive around the post. Suddenly the first heart-in-mouth moment happens, a bird flies into the window and makes me jump out of my skin!! Back to the game and JJ makes another fine run, only halted by a tackle in the box - again. The big Serbian, Zigic hits the deck inside the Owls area and is furious when only a corner (that leads to nothing) is awarded. 75mins has passed & the Owls are camped in Birmingham's half, good possession play. When Birmingham do manage a break, with King through on goal, a solid Kirkland sprints off his line and smothers the ball. O'Grady is being marked out of the game now and Madine is havin to work hard, as is JJ who fires a shot just wide. On the 78th minute the away crowd have a chance to celebrate as a Redmond cross is dummied in the box by King, leaving Zigic the easy task off slotting home from 6yards, 2-1 game on. Wednesday have a long range shot by McCabe saved resulting in a corner which Madine almost scores from, heading just wide. Pecnik replaces O'Grady. With 7mins left to play, a break for Birmingham sees Burke advancing only for Semedo to do his best Usain Bolt impression and chases the Birmingham player down, tackling him and earning applause from the stands. The nights 4th goal comes as JJ rifles in a deserved goal and the stands lap it up, a great noise fills the Tuesday night sky as 'Wednesday! Wednesday!' is chanted. A late consolation for the away side is a converted penalty by King after a Resa foul, sending Kirkland the opposite way. FT. "Hark Now Here" rings out from the terraces.
The 3-2 score line definitely flattered Birmingham after a very good display from the Owls, making it 16 unbeaten games for Dave Jones' side.
Attendance: 25,379
Man of the Match (mine): JJ
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